US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA10565

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BODY OF AFRO-COLOMBIAN LEADER ORLANDO VALENCIA FOUND; GOC FOCUS ON LOCAL POLICE, BUSINESS INTERESTS

Identifier: 05BOGOTA10565
Wikileaks: View 05BOGOTA10565 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Bogota
Created: 2005-11-09 13:42:00
Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
Tags: PGOV PREL PHUM CO
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
VZCZCXYZ0005
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #0565 3131342
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 091342Z NOV 05
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9546
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 010565 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, CO 
SUBJECT: BODY OF AFRO-COLOMBIAN LEADER ORLANDO VALENCIA 
FOUND; GOC FOCUS ON LOCAL POLICE, BUSINESS INTERESTS 
 
REF: BOGOTA 9963 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood. Reasons: 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C) On November 2, a senior government official informed 
the Embassy that the GOC had positively identified the body 
of kidnapped Afro-Colombian leader Orlando Valencia, 
discovered on October 24 after a nine-day search (reftel). 
The GOC continues to investigate the circumstances 
surrounding his kidnapping and murder and is now focusing on 
local police and African palm oil business interests. 
 
------------------------- 
GOC Says Body is Valencia 
------------------------- 
 
2. (C) Carlos Franco, Director of the President's Office on 
Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, told 
D/Polcouns November 2 that the GOC had positively identified 
the body of kidnapped Afro-Colombian leader Orlando Valencia. 
 The official Prosecutor General's Office report on the 
subject has not yet been released, he said, but there is no 
doubt the body is Valencia. 
 
----------------------------------- 
Focus on Police, Palm Oil Interests 
----------------------------------- 
 
3. (C) Franco said the GOC investigation is now focused on 
African palm oil farmers and local police.  Franco recounted 
conversations he had recently with leaders of the Elmer 
Cardenas paramilitary bloc, prominent in the Choco 
Department, who insisted that they had nothing to do with 
either the kidnapping or murder.  Franco said he tends to 
believe them. 
 
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Comment 
------- 
 
4. (C) The Ambassador raised the importance of a quick, 
thorough investigation to capture and prosecute the murderers 
with Vice President Santos on October 30.  He met with a 
delegation of Peace Brigades International on November 4 and 
reiterated that the Embassy would continue to press the GOC 
for answers. 
WOOD 

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